The UK’s relationship with EU employment law post-Brexit

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Essential points

The UK voted to leave the European Union in 2016 and on 31 December 2020 the United Kingdom left the EU single market and customs union.
From 31 December 2020, domestic law which related to former EU obligations, such as the UK's Working Time Regulations, were expressly retained in the UK.
As part of the EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement in 2020, the UK agreed not to lower labour or social protections below the standards previously in place.
From 1 January 2024, the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Act 2023 enabled the UK Government to change, or repeal previous EU derived laws, but employment legislation remained largely unaffected.

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Disclaimer

Please note: While every care has been taken in compiling this content, CIPD cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions. These notes are not intended to be a substitute for specific legal advice.